Draft-equalizer.



No. 807,616. PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905. P. HELD. DRAFT EQUALIZBR.

APPLIOATION TILED JUNE 24,1905.

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PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL HELD, OF ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA.

DRAFT-EQUALIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed June 24:, 1905- Serial No. 266,806.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PAUL HELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Cloud, in the.

county of Stearns and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Equalizers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for securing a doubletree to the pole of a vehicle, and has for one of its objects the provision of improved means by which should either animal fall behind it would temporarily have the advantage over the other animal until it had caught up, when the draft would be again equalized.

Another object of my invention is the provision of improved means by which either animal may be permanently given the advantage over another animal because of differences in size or strength.

My invention is comparatively simple in construction, easy to remove and replace, and by placing the draft nearer the wheels or front axle reduces the traction force necessary to pull the vehicle.

The construction of my invention will be fully described hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a fragment of a vehicle-pole, showing my improved evener in position; Fig. 2, a top plan view of the casting that is secured to the pole; Fig. 3, aside view of the same casting, and Fig. 4 a top view of the casting that is attached to the doubletree.

In the drawings similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

On the pole A is secured a casting B, having at its front end and in relief thereon a rack G, that is slightly concave in outline, while near its rear end is secured a hook D. The front edge of the casting B is formed with a point E in its center and slightly beveled back from its center, as shown at F. G represents another casting, provided with a rack H, slightly more convex in outline than rack C and adapted to mesh with the rack C. The rear side of casting G is formed with a semicircular depression I and depressions J leading therefrom to the side edges of the casting.

K represents the doubletree, having secured to each end clips L, in which are secured rods M, having their ends screw-threaded and provided with nuts for this purpose. The other end of each rod M is formed with a loop N, in which is secured a ring 0. When in position, the ring 0 seats in semicircular depression I, while the sides of loops N seat in depressions J.

P represents a hook secured to ring 0, which enables the use of the dou bletree with other forms of draft appliances than those described herein-such, for instance, on plow-beams, as a stretcher for the lead horses in four-horse teams, &c.

Q represents a projection on casting B, that rides in the semicircular depression I and prevents the casting G from swinging so far that the whiflietrees on the ends of doubletree K would get caught in the spokes of the front wheels.

R represents a V-shaped strap secured at its apex to hook D and having its ends secured to threaded projections S on the ends of rack G by means of wing-nuts, as shown, or other desired fastening. The purpose of strap R is to hold the casting G in place.

It will be understood from the above description and an inspection of the drawings that should either animal fall behind the rack H would rock in rack C so that the center of pull would be shifted toward the forward end of the doubletree and the animal that had the back end having the advantage temporarily would be enabled to catch up, its advantage decreasing until the draft is equalized. Should it be desired to give either animal the advantage over the other because of difference in strength or weight or in breaking colts, the relative lengths of the two ends of the doubletree may be differentiated by loosening the nut on the end of one rod M and tightening the nut on the end of the other rod M.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. Adraft-equalizercomprisingasegmental rack secured to the vehicle-pole, a segmental rack meshing therewith, a doubletree, and means to connect the last-mentioned rack with the ends of the doubletree, substantially as shown and described.

2. A draft-equalizer comprising a rack secured to the vehicle-pole, a casting provided with a rack meshing with the rack aforesaid, said casting forming a semicircular-depression, a doubletree, a ring adapted to seat in said semicircular depression, and rods secured to the ends of the doubletree and to said ring, substantiallyas shown and described.

3. A draft-equalizer comprising a segmental rack secured to the vehicle-pole, acasting proseat in the depressions connecting the semi circular depression and the sides of the cast- I ing, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof 1 hereto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

PAUL HELD.

Witnesses:

J. 1. DONOHUE, J. E. ROBINSON. 

